Parliament Bill 1911 Amendments

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Clause Two of the Parliament Bill reflected the principal subject of dissension within the Lords: ‘Restriction of the powers of the House of Lords as to bills other than money bills’. The clause faced a barrage of amendments, a few of which are pictured here, during its passage through the House of Lords. The Parliament Bill proposed that if a bill was rejected in three consecutive Parliamentary sessions by the Lords, it would be given Royal Assent without their consent. The duration of Parliament would also be shortened from seven to five years. The Earl of Malmesbury proposed an amendment to this clause at committee stage to try and retain some of the influence the Lords had on the passage of legislation. At the time of this debate many peers feared that the Parliament Bill was tantamount to an unofficial written constitution.